EDITORS HERALD-CRIMSON. - Now that the question of athletic training is so momentous a one among the different colleges and preparatory schools, it does not seem amiss to call attention to another point which bears directly upon the future orgaization and success of the various college teams, - the picking out of the proper material for positions on the representative elevens, nines and eighths. Hitherto this arduous and by no means agreeable duty has fallen to the lot of the captains elected by the several classes. He it is who, in a large measure, selects and appoints men fit in his estimation to do credit to the college in the athletic field, and he holds the power of the dismissal from the team of those men who do not seem satisfactory. This power which ought never to be abused, is often used in a way which, though often without cause, creates universal discontent among those striving for position. It would be a strange thing indeed, if every captain elected by the students to fill this important office was "the eight man in the eight place," who puts aside all personal friendships and enmities in picking out his men. He might retain, influenced by friendship, an average man, on the ground that he would fill the position as well as need be, and thus look over, or set aside a man who would fill the post better. This conduct discourages and disgusts many hard-working men from trying for positions, and they cease to train. While an average man may do as good as need be, that is no reason why an abler and better man should not have a fair trial; moreover a man must do better than is necessary to do his college honor. Again the captains, - and this is especially the case with freshman captains - have not had much experience in controlling and commanding college men so that they may be carried away, lose their head and use their power to advance friends. We do not think that the selecting men for the teams is part of a captain's duty, but that he is elected to train the men and govern them when on the field. The hard feeling and discontent caused by this misuse of power might be alleviated, if not overcome, by giving to a committee the responsibility of choosing the men. A half-dozen or a dozen men selected from all the classes, would then fairly and impartially choose the proper men, uninfluenced by personal feeling and with an experience only gained by a majority, while in this case all discontent among the disappointed candidates would cease. The various crews have some slight advantage in the benefit of their coach's advice, a man who necessarily knows what men are, physically and intellectually, capable for the position, but this unfortunately is not so regarding the nines and elevens.

M.